MINUTES OF THE
NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
Monday, February 5, 2024 • 8:00 a.m. • 210 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. Scott D. Sandall, Chair
Rep. Stewart E. Barlow, House Chair
Rep. Scott H. Chew, House Vice Chair
Sen. Nate Blouin
Sen. David G. Buxton
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
Sen. Ronald M. Winterton
Rep. Carl R. Albrecht
Rep. Tim Jimenez
Rep. Brian S. King
Rep. Michael L. Kohler
Rep. Steven J. Lund
Rep. Phil Lyman
Rep. Doug Owens
Rep. Casey Snider

Members Absent:
Sen. Daniel McCay
Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox

Staff Present:
Ivan D. Djambov, Finance Manager
Lacey K. Moore, Finance Officer
Karen C. Allred, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
1.Call to Order
Chair Barlow called the meeting to order at 8:04 a.m.
2.Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office
2a- PLPCO Presentation
2b-PLPCO Ridgelines to Shorelines Handout
Redge Johnson, Director, Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office (PLPCO), made a presentation.
Chair Barlow asked how many litigation cases PLPCO is currently handling, with a response from Redge Johnson.
Rep. Lund asked about the top request, with a response from Redge Johnson.
3.RFA: Professional Services - Public Lands Issues (Rep. Albrecht)
3a-Professional Services Public Lands Issues RFA Application
Rep. Carl Albrecht introduced the Request for Appropriation (RFA) for Professional Services on public land issues, for a one time request for five Utah Counties, and introduced Commissioner Pollack, Garfield County, Commissioner Talbot, Piute County, and Commissioner Blackburn, Wayne County.
Leland Pollack, County Commissioner, Garfield County, expressed appreciation to PLPCO and their attorneys.
Rep. Albrecht stated that this is a supplement to PLPCO, and that the small counties don't have funding for needed litigation.
4.Forestry, Fire, and State Lands
4a-FFSL Presentation
4b-Forestry, Fire and State Lands Handouts
Lacey Moore highlighted items on the reductions list for Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, and Wildlife Resources.
Jamie Barnes, Director, Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, made a presentation about the division.
Sen. Sandall asked about the lag time of reimbursement from the federal government on past fires, with response from Jamie Barnes.
5.RFA: Clean School Bus Program - Matching Funds (Sen. Cullimore)
5a-Clean School Bus Program RFA Application
5b-Clean School Bus Program RFA Handout
Sen. Kirk Cullimore introduced Alexander Tarbet representing PEW Charitable Trust and introduced the RFA for energy modernization and the clean school bus program.
Alexander Tarbet explained the request of the Pew Charitable trust.
Sen. Cullimore concluded highlighting the federal funds, the heavy investment of other states, and the need for this request.
Rep. Chew asked about statistics on the longevity of these new busses, with a response from Alexander Tarbet.
Sen. Buxton asked about the length of the battery life, with a response from Alexander Tarbet.
Rep. Jimenez commented on the maintenance of electric vehicles and how dangerous it can be. Alexander Tarbet responded that the federal funding covers the maintenance and charging infrastructure.
6.RFA: Division of Wildlife Resources Land Acquisition (Sen. Millner)
6a-DWR Land Acquisition RFA Application
6b-DWR Land Acquisition Presentation
Sen. Ann Millner introduced an RFA for the Division of Wildlife Resources Land Acquisition, and mentioned how much of Morgan County is private lands. She explained the importance of this land purchase for preservation of wildlife, to expand outdoor recreation.
Chelsea Duke, Wildlife Lands Coordinator, Division of Wildlife Resources, explained the request, including matching funds, the property to be purchased, and the purpose of the purchase.
Chair Barlow asked about the map of the land purchase, with a response from Chelsea Duke.
Rep. Chew also asked about the map and private ownership, with a response from Chelsea Duke.
Sen. Sandall asked about the committed funds, the funding request, and the purchase of the property, with responses from Chelsea Duke.
Sen. Millner concluded with the importance of wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities this close to the Wasatch Front and that this project can make that happen.
Sen. Sandall asked about the total request being one-time or over two years, with a response from Sen. Millner.
7.RFA: Plain City Sewer Headworks Replacement Project (Rep. Gwynn)
7a-Plain City Sewer Headworks Replacement RFA Application
Rep. Matthew Gwynn introduced Mayor John Beasley and the request for a sewer headworks replacement project.
John Beasley, Mayor, Plain City, Weber County, Utah, explained the request.
Rep. Chew asked if the project is a replacement or upgrade, with a response from Mayor Beasley.
Rep. Gwynn concluded with the growth of the area, and the need for this RFA.
8.Watershed Restoration Initiative
8a-WRI Presentation
Tyler Thompson, Director, Watershed Restoration Program, made a presentation about the program.
Rep. Lund asked about the counties served, with a response from Tyler Thompson. Rep. Lund expressed appreciation for the good work.
Rep. Snyder asked what percent of the budget is fire and asked about the ridgeline to shoreline project, with a response from Tyler Thompson.
Rep. Albrecht commented that both projects should be considered.
Sen. Sandall asked what is the barrier between the fire suppression fund and the restoration fund, with a response from Tyler Thompson.
9.RFA: Wetland Protection and Restoration (Rep. Hall)
9a-Wetland Protection and Restoration RFA Application
Rep. Katy Hall introduced the RFA for wetland protection and restoration.
R. Jeffrey Hicks, Constituent of Rep. Hall, and Board Member, Utah Water Fowl Association and Air Boat Association, said this is a great time for this wetland project and the need for the request, and expressed appreciation for Rep. Hall bring this request to the committee.
Ben Stireman, Deputy Director, Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, explained the RFA.
Sen. Sandall commented on the confusion of many funding requests for phragmites, and the requests need to come together.
10.RFA: Mobile Air Quality Observation System (Rep. Romero)
10a-Mobile Air Quality Observation RFA Application
10b-Mobile Air Quality Observation System RFA Handout
Rep. Angela Romero deferred the time to Daniel Mendoza
Dr. Daniel Mendoza, University of Utah explained the RFA for a mobile air quality observation system,
Rep. Romero concluded that this project has been funded for the last several year.
Rep. Chew asked about the handout bullet point of capturing spatial variations in ozone, and if this has the ability to differentiate between ozone, dust and wildfire smoke, with a response from Daniel Mendoza.
Sen. Sandal asked about the past funding, with a response from Rep. Romero.
11.Other Business
Rep. Barlow told the subcommittee to get their priority lists in by noon today, for voting at the next meeting, Wednesday, February 7.
Rep. Lyman asked how the Chairs want the priority list, with a response from Sen. Sandal.
12.Wildlife Resources
12a-Wildlife Resources Presentation
Justin "J" Shirley, Director, Division of Wildlife Resources, introduced Kenny Johnson, Administrative Services Chief, and gave a presentation on the Division of Wildlife Resources.
Sen. Sandal mentioned that we need to find the best way to fight phragmites and what money is spent by whom.
J Shirley continued the presentation.
Sen. Sandal commented on the great job on controlling invasive species, and the need to not let it spread. J Shirley responded.
Rep. Albrecht commented on an article about wolves in the Rockies, and also asked about permits on mule deer, with responses from J Shirley.
13.RFA: Carbon Canal Flume/Flood Control Structure (Sen. Hinkins)
13a-Carbon Canal Flume RFA Application
Sen. David Hinkins explained the RFA for a Carbon Canal Flume and Flood Control Structure.
14.Adjourn
MOTION:Sen. Buxton moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 15-0-2.
Yeas - 15Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. C. Albrecht
Rep. S. Barlow
Sen. N. Blouin
Sen. D. Buxton
Rep. S. Chew
Sen. L. Fillmore
Rep. T. Jimenez
Rep. B. King
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. P. Lyman
Rep. D. Owens
Sen. S. Sandall
Rep. C. Snider
Sen. R. Winterton
Sen. D. McCay
Rep. R. Wilcox
Chair Barlow adjourned the meeting at 10:14 a.m.